Studies have shown that drivers don’t fall asleep without warning. Drivers who fall asleep at the wheel have often tried to fight off drowsiness by opening a window, or by turning up the radio. This doesn’t work for long. Sleep-related accidents are more likely than others to result in a fatality or serious injury. Peak times for accidents are in the early hours and after lunch
Infographic credits: www.mattressonline.co.uk
More tips to avoid fatigued driving:
- Plan your journey to include a 15-minute break every two hours.
- Don’t start a long trip if you’re already tired.
- Remember the risks if you have to get up unusually early to start a long drive.
- Try to avoid long trips between midnight and 6am when you’re likely to feel sleepy anyway.
- If you start to feel sleepy, find a safe place to stop – not the hardshoulder of a motorway. Drink two cups of coffee or a high-caffeine drink and have a rest for 10 to 15 minutes to allow time for the caffeine to kick in.
- Remember, the only real cure for sleepiness is proper sleep. A caffeine drink or a nap is a short-term solution that will only allow you to keep driving for a short time.